MICHELIN: Oui.. I need to replace zee tires on my SUV.
Written: Sep 16 '00 (Updated Sep 23 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent traction and high mileage.
Cons: Expensive, but worth it !
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| roadiem's Full Review: Michelin LTX M/S SL Truck/SUV Tire |
YOU DIDN'T KNOW I WAS FRENCH: ?
Yes I know...that was a lame attempt at a faux French accent, but what can I say, I'm not a writer, just a guy who spends between 45 and 50 hours every week in an auto repair facility. And as it happens the place where I work is a certified Michelin dealer so I get ample opportunity to install and maintain many Michelin tires. The French lay claim to be the inventors of radial tire technology, and as such you would think by now they would have learned a thing or two. You would be correct.
One of the most popular tires we sell is Michelins line of LTX light truck and SUV tires. When people shell out big bucks for their new vehicle and the time arrives to replace the first set of mediocre factory tires, or want an immediate upgrade when new, one of the decisions to make is which brand do I go with. If the television ads are to be believed, you don't really love your child or family if you don't opt for the new set of Michelins. Though they really don't mean it in that way, you really are committing to excellence if the decision is made to put your money on the French.
THE FEATURES OF THE MICHELIN LTX M/S SL:
The first thing you want to ask is what's with all the letters ? The M/S designation is always letting you know this is a Mud and Snow rated tire. With the LTX the tread is not so aggressive that you will want to use it only in winter or off road driving conditions, but it truly is an all season tire.
In the description of the tire on the Epinions product page there are certain statements made that I'll try to explain to you while coincidently letting you know why this is of benefit to you.
Top of the Line SUV Tire. State-of-the-art casing distributes stresses evenly for longer tread life: This is almost obvious. Top of the line is exactly that. It doesn't get any better than this. The casing of the tire is basically the whole tire minus the tread. This is one well built and hefty tire. When you lift this tire up to carry it, you know you are dealing with something substantial, and this translates to stability under your heavy truck or SUV.
Unique tread block pattern minimizes noise for a quiet ride. Large, stable contact patch maximizes the stability of the tread blocks for longer tire life: The uniqueness of the tread blocks is this. They are computer designed in shape and size to enable a quiet ride by having the sequence of the tread blocks staggered so as not to set up any kind of harmonic and create that "truck tire noise." If the tread blocks were all the same size and shape and all spaced equidistant all the way around the circumference of the tire, it would howl like a drunken monkey. You have my word there will be no howling.
Deep circumferential grooves channel water out from under the contact patch for exceptional wet traction. Interlocking, full-depth sipes provide many biting edges for excellent snow traction while still maintaining tread block stability for enhanced cornering: This is simply put, the wide gaps in the tread that go all the way around the tire to pump water out while you are traveling down the road. If water were trapped with no escape, you would hydroplane, water would build up between the tire and the road and you would not be able to steer of brake. The sipes are the minor smaller slits in the tread blocks themselves to allow for traction grip and smaller amounts of water to escape from those tread blocks.
Special tread rubber compound helps the tire maintain excellent grip in all weather conditions: This is simply the chemical compound of the rubber itself well balanced and hard enough for long life yet soft enough to give you the traction you are in need of. The treadwear rating is 440 just right for your particular application.*Remember...your family is depending on you to get there, or get them somewhere, these tires won't disappoint.
DO THEY MAKE ONE ESPECIALLY FOR ME: ?
Yes they do ! But to list every size and every configuration therein would take a lot of space and this review will be long enough already, with all the gushing and such ! Suffice it to say, Michelin has you well covered in sizes. With a smallest of LT195/75R14 to a largest of P265/70R17 the gamut is well represented.
* For a detailed description of all the numbers and letters associated with tire sizing, please visit the review I did on choosing a tire. Copy and paste the URL listed in bold below to be better informed.
http://suspensions.epinions.com/auto-review-2243-7FD5860-395DED1F-prod4
There are "LT" tires in the mix as well as "P" tires including "P/XL", with "LT" designating light truck and "P" being passenger tire with the "P/XL" meaning passenger extra load. There are black sidewall, outlined white lettered sidewall, black outlined lettered sidewall etc. Just visit your Michelin dealer for the exact size and options you want.
I have had very well reported on success with the customers in the shop where I work who run these Michelins on their vehicles. I have seen a few sets with over 80,000 miles on then and they still look good. They ride smoothly, are quiet and inspire a sense of well being when you know these are under you. Just remember to have your front end aligned upon purchase and checked at least every year thereafter. Keep the air pressure at an acceptable level and check that at least monthly, and rotate your tires every five to seven thousand miles to get the most out of your new set of Michelin LTX M/S SL tires.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
roadiem
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 - Top 200 |
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Reviews written: 138
Trusted by: 300 members
About Me:
I'm a 41 year old auto mechanic who is hooked on Blues Music, and Phonics
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